I am using:
Memphis Power Reference PR4.50 Speakers Amp
Memphis Power Reference PR1.500 Sub Amp
Sony CDX-M850MP
Connects2USA.com iPod to Sony Adapter
4GB iPod Nano
Modifry Sony DCI
Boston Acoustic FS60X 6 1/2" Component front speakers
Boston Acoustic FX5 5 1/4" Rear Speakers
Marks2002 S-Pods S-Pod Info (Consolidated Information) Thread
Elemental Designs 11kv.2 Sub in WLAURENT's passenger side box.

I had a lot of help on this from both people here and some of my friends in the "real" world. Thanks to everyone.

My requirements were that I needed to hear the radio at speed. I wanted to play MP3s. I did not want to lose any space in the trunk. I tried an Alpine once, but was not happy with the controls. I wanted to try Sony this time. I decided to get a 5 channel amp so that I could add a sub later if I needed to and not have to add another amp. I found it hard enough to locate one amp, I didn't want to find room for two. Of course, the dash controls needed to work too.


I ran 4ga wire from the battery to the trunk along the passenger side sill. I also ran my amp turn on wire the same place so I could mount the amp in the spare tire area.

I ran the interconnects from the HU to the amp through the center console area. I also ran the speaker wire to the front through there too. I mounted the front x-overs under dash.

Running speaker wire through the doors was a PITA. The hard part for me was getting the tape off the grommet. Once that was accomplished, there is a lot of extra room in the grommet itself. As suggested my MacGyver, a long wire-tie was perfect as a fish tape. I had to trim the tweeter mounts significantly, and I am still not 100% happy with the drivers side tweeter, but it does look stock. (The surface mount option that came with the speakers was too small to cover the factory hole in the door panel.) 3/4" spacers were needed to mount the woofer, but it does not hit the door panel or the window.

The rear speakers were not easy either. I got the S-Pods from Marks2002, and it should have been easy. Unfortunately the design of the S-Pods and the design of the speakers were not cohesive. The speakers are supposed to mount to the front of the S-Pod after installing it to the car. What I had to do was mount the speaker to the BACK of the S-Pod's plate then assemble it with a speaker in the way. (The pix below will help this make sense.) With different speakers, this would have been MUCH easier.

EDIT -- I originally had Kenwood rear speakers and the above refers to this install. The Boston Acoustics fit VERY nicely.

The Modifry Sony DCI was a piece of cake to hook up. Works like a charm. I wish I could change some of the functions around a little, but overall I am VERY happy. The speed sensitive volume is VERY cool. I looked at the DJ Qube option, and was originally going to go that route. In the end, I am glad I did not. As it turns out there are functions that can ONLY be done with the remote for the HU. (DJ Qube's solution uses the guts of the remote to make it work.) It is now hardwired (no photo eye.)

I stopped in the middle of this project to clear my headlights and install my CAI. I also drove for about 2 weeks without the amp or front speakers hooked up while I was trying to figure out how to mount the speakers. I figure I have about 25-30 hours into the setup over a period of about 4 weeks. It sounds fantastic! I get very good bass (at least for me.) The sound is crisp and clear. I have full balance and fade controls so I don't have any problems with the sound stage. Maybe in the spring I will add a Wlaurant Sub enclosure, but I am done with it for now. BTW -- Because of the speed sensitive volume I was able to test the limits of this setup. While I don't believe I have found the limit I have found that I can hear the radio at 105MPH!

Pix:
I want all of THIS in THERE:


Interior Stripped:



Here is the trimming I did to fit the original front speakers. the stock speaker basket is on the left, and the cut one is on the right.


The current speakers I am running (the Boston Acoustics) didn't fit in the baskets at all. I am running custom speaker spacers now.







This is how the S-Pod is supposed to go in.



The mounting flange on the speaker, and the height of the tweeter meant I needed to modify the S-Pod and mount the speaker from behind:



Here is what it looks like on the car:





Here is the speaker with the grille off, and the back of the grille:



EDIT: I added PAS2KNUT's new amp rack:




EDIT: I added a Sub in one of WLAURENT'S enclosures with his grille.





EDIT: I just added an iPod Nano to the setup:




EDIT: Replaced the MTX Amp with two Memphis Amps:




Impressions of the Memphis Amps can be found here:
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?act=S...0#entry10586168

 

Great setup! Love the headrest speakers! Very creative

 

Nice Install!!!

I've got the same rear speaker set-up (s-pods) w/Alpine Type R component speakers, and they rock! What a huge improvement over stock.

Props to Marks2002 for inventing the S-pod as a rear speaker solution!

 

cool install man...

well laid and thought out... i like the speaker headrest setup...
you need to carpet that amp rack though... just kidding... it's nicely hidden away and that's just as good.

you really need to copy that post and stick it in PAS2KNut's installs thread at the top...


that rear speaker setup strikes me though as very interesting...

i might think about doing something like that, but by wiring the rear speakers in series for an 8 ohm load and then sending them a mono signal from the amp... then rolling the front up strong, so you keep your soundstage and stereo separation, but still get a 'full' rear presence that would have a simulated stereo feel... (along the lines of Dobly Pro-Logic's rear speaker processing)

random thoughts...

an overall on the install.

 

Thanks guys,

PJK. I did not understand a WORD you said!

All I know it that it sound cool.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ruexp67
[B]Thanks guys,

PJK.

 

where can i get those head rest speaker pods??????? Nice set up too!!!!!!!!!

 

So do you use time correction to correct for the imaging on the headrest speakers?

 

You can PM marks2002 about the S-Pods.

 

PJk, I understand what you are talking about now. Sounds cool. It's something to think about. I really don't know how I would go about executing that plan, but I will do some research.

Overall I am very happy with the soundstage and the way it sounds. I am not, however, much of an audiophile so what sounds good to me, might not sound good to someone else.

Mike, I don't do any time correction (that I am aware of.) I just adjusted the balance and fade until is sounded pretty good. The Sony HU has some adjustment for "Digital Sound Stage" that is supposed to virtualize the soundstage. Frankly when I started playing with it, it sounded like crap. I didn't mess with it for very long though. I just turned it off.